Vibration dampener for laundry machines



June 6, 1950 w. J. RUSSELL 1 m.

VIBRATION DAMPENER FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 21, 1945 W/LL/AM J RUJSELL OZSCAR M. ANDERJON a I W June 1950 w. J. RUSSELL ETAL 2,510,836

VIBRATION DAMPENER FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES Filed Dec. 21, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 W/LL/AM RUSSELL 0504/? M ANDERSON gvwwntom June 6, 1950 w, RUSSELL 2,510,836

- VIBRATION DAMPENER FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES Filed Dec. 21, 1945 :s Sheets-Sheet s gvwm'vkwa, W/LL/AM J P055544 0504/? M ANDERSON ?atented .Fune E95 VIBRATION DAMPENER FOR LAUNDRY MAC ES William J. Russell, Newington, and Oscar M. An-

derson, New Britain, Comm, assignors, by mesne assignments, to Crosley Division, Avco Manufacturing Corporation, Cincinnati, Ohio, a cor poration of Delaware Application December 21, 1945, Serial No. 636,426

9 Claims.

This invention relates to laundry machines for washing and drying, or partially drying, fabrics or the like and has particular reference to a laundry'machine of the type having a horizontal, perforate basket or drum located in a tub and driven at a relatively low speedduring washing periods and at a relatively high speed during fluid extracting periods.

In laundry machines of this sort, the tub unit, comprising the tub and the basket journaled therein, is subjected to various vibrations and gyratory actions which are largely due to unbalanced conditions as when the fabrics are not uniformly distributed within the basket. Varying vibrational forces are encountered throughout the entire cycle of operation of the machine but the amplitudes of vibration are particularly pronounced at the critical speed, i. e., when the speed of the basket during transition between washing and spinning speeds is such that the ziorced vibrations are in step or resonance, or

nearly so, with the natural frequency of the unit.

An object of the invention is to provide in a laundry machine an improved mounting for the tub unit so constructed and arranged as to effectively absorb the vibrations encountered during rotation of the basket throughout the cycle of operation of the machine, and restrain the amplitude of the vibrations whereby transmittal of the vibrations to the supporting structure and then to the surface upon which it rests is minimized.

A further aim of the invention is to provide a mounting of this sort having various features of novelty and advantage and which is particularly characterized by its simplicity in construction, by its economy in manufacture and installation, by its compactness, and by its durability.

Othr objects will be in part.obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view of a laundry machine in which the improvements of the present invention are incorporated, the supporting structure or casing being shown in vertical section;

Fig. 2 is a view looking at the left-hand end of the machine shown in Fig. 1, the casing being shown in vertical section;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of one of the friction devices and the associated spring, this view being taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating one of the friction devices and the associated spring.

Referring to the drawings in detail, Ill designates a casing or supporting structure of any suitable type, the same here being shown as comprising a casing formed of sheet metal and having in its upper wall an opening H about which is a depending flange l2. Located within the casing is a tub unit comprising a horizontally disposed cylindrical tub l3 and a perforated cylindrical drum or basket l4 journaled therein on a horizontal axis. The basket has, at its opposite ends, gudgeons l5 journaled in bearings l6 carried by the end walls of the tub. The opening II in the casing accommodates the upper portion of the tub. The basket and tub will, of course, be provided with suitable openings through which the clothes may be placed into and removed from the basket, these openings and the closures therefor not being shown as they are conventional. The basket has internal vanes or ribs 9 for lifting the fabrics so as to tumble and agitate the same during washing and rinsing operations.

For the purpose of rotating the basket at a. relatively slow speed during washing and rinsing operations and at a relatively high speed during fluid extracting periods, we have shown, for illustrative purposes, an electric motor I1 and a two-speed transmission mechanism l8 driven thereby. The motor and transmission mechanism, in the present illustrative disclosure, are shown as being carried by a bracket I9 connected to and suspended from the tub l3. I'he output shaft of the transmission mechanism drives the basket through a belt 2|] passing about pulleys 2| and 22 respectively fixed to the output shaft and the left-hand gudgeon l5 of the tub. The two-speed transmission mechanism may be of any suitable sort and, therefore, is shown more or less conventionally. In order to counterbalance the bracket l9 and the motor and transmission mechanism carried thereby, suitable weights 23 may be fixed to the upper portion of the tub.

Referring now to the improvements of the present invention, the tub unit is suspended from the supporting structure or casing by friction damping devices D with which are associated springs S which resiliently support the tub unit in both its upper fluid extracting position and its lower washing position and permit movement of the tub unit in all directions in the plane of rotation of the basket throughout the entire cycle of operation of the machine. In the present illustrative disclosures, there are two friction damping devices at each end of the tub. Each of these devices comprise a link 30 pivoted. as at 3|, to, and depending from, the flange 12 of the casing; a bell crank link 32 pivoted to the lower end of the link 30 by a bolt 33, and a friction member or washer 34 of suitable material, such as brake lining material. about the bolt 33 and between the links. The links 30 are disposed to opposite sides of the center of the tub, and the links 32 have laterally extending arms 35 the inner ends of which are pivoted to the tub, in the present instance these arms being pivoted, as at 36, to a cross member or bracket 31 secured to the end of the tub. The links 32 further have arms 38 angularly disposed to the arms 35, and between these arms 38 and the tub are the springs S so arranged as to normally urge the links 32 in directions to move the arms 35 upwardly. In the embodiment shown, the arms 38 are depending relative to the pivots for 'the links 32, and the springs S are in the form of coiled tension springs, the opposite ends of which are respectively connected to the arms 38 and a bracket 39 secured to the end of the tub below the center thereof. The friction washer 34 are pressed between the associated links so as to afford frictional resistance to relative pivotal movement between the links. The amount of friction exerted by the friction devices may be suitably adjusted as by tightening the bolts 33, and, if desired, the friction washers may be spring pressed between the links by springs 40 carried by the bolts. The links 30 and 32 are preferably formed from steel plate. They are rigid in the direction in which they swing but are transversely flexible so as to resiliently restrain and restrict endwise movement of the tub unit.

It will be seen from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, that the tub unit is suspended from the supporting structure or casing by the friction damping devices, and the springs S normally urge the tub unit into, and resiliently support it in, the upper position shown in the drawings. when the fabrics are introduced into the basket and water is admitted to the tub, the tub unit will sink to a lower position in which the washing and rinsing operations are carried out. When the tub unit thus moves downwardly to its lower position, the links 32 turn in a direction to move the arms 38 apart so that the springs S are further distended. The basket is rotated at a relatively low speed during the washing and rinsing operations during which time the fabrics are carried through the water in the lower part of the tub and are lifted by the vanes and then dropped back into the lower portion of the basket. After the washing and rinsing operations have been completed, the water is drained from.the tub whereupon the tub unit, under the influence of the springs 8, will move to approximately its upper position and the basket is rotated at a relatively high speed so as to rapidly spin the basket and centrifugally extract the water from the fabrics. After the fabrics have been substantially dried, the driving mechanism is stopped and the fabrics are removed.

It will be observed that, in all positions of the tub unit and throughout the entire cycle of operation of the machine, the springs S resiliently support the tub unit. During rotation of the basket in all phases, including the critical phase. the links and springs permit the basket to assume a position where it may gyrate about its center of mass, whereby vibrations, due to unbalance, are considerably reduced and, as the springs largely absorb the vibrational forces encountered, transmittal of these forces to the supporting structure and then to the floor upon which it rests is minimized. It will further be observed that the friction damping devices also serve to absorb the frictional forces and limit the amplitude of vibration of the tub unit in all directions in planes normal to the axis or rotation of the basket. The frictional resistance of the damping devices. while adjustable, preferably at the factory, are, after they have been adjusted, constant or fixed throughout the entire cycle of operation of the machine. As previously indicated, the links of the friction damping devices are somewhat resilient or flexible transversely of their planes and thereby restrict, within mechanical limitations, movement of the tub unit in the direction of the axis of the basket.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a laundry machine for washing fabrics and for extracting cleaning fluid therefrom by centrifugal force, a supporting structure, a tub structure, a basket journaled in the tub structure for rotation about a horizontal axis, means for rotating the basket at a relatively low speed during washing periods and at a relatively high speed during fluid extracting periods, and means for resiliently supporting the tub structure and restraining the amplitude of vibration thereof, said means comprising links pivoted to and depending from said supporting structure, links respectively pivoted to said first mentioned links and pivotally connected to said tub structure, friction elements between the first mentioned and second mentioned links, and springs extending between said second mentioned links and the tub structure for resiliently supporting the tub structure.

2. In a laundry machine for washing fabrics and for extracting cleaning fluid therefrom by centrifugal force, a supporting structure, a tub structure, a basket journaled in the tub structure for rotation about a horizontal axis, means for rotating the basket at a relatively low speed during washing periods and at a relatively high speed during fluid extracting periods, and means for resiliently supporting the tub structure and restraining the amplitude of vibration thereof, said means comprising links pivoted to and depending from said supporting structure, links respectively pivoted to said first mentioned links and having laterally extending arms pivotally connected to said tub structure, friction elements between the first mentioned and second mentioned links, and springs extending between the tub structure and said second mentioned links structure, a basket journaled in the tub structure for rotation about a horizontal axis, means for rotating the basket at a relatively low speed during washing periods and at a relatively high speed during fluid extracting periods, and means for resiliently supporting the tub structure and restraining the amplitude of vibration thereof, said means comprising links pivoted to and depending from said supporting structure, links respectively pivoted to said first mentioned links and having laterally extending arms pivotally connected to said tub structure, friction elements between the first mentioned and second mentioned links, and springs extending between the tub structure and said second mentioned links and resiliently biasing the latter about their pivots in the direction of upward movement of the arms, said links being resilient lengthwise of the basket and arranged to resiliently restrain movement of the tub structure in the direction of the axis of the tub.

4. In a laundry machine for washing fabrics and for extracting cleaning fluid therefrom by centrifugal force, a supporting structure, a tub structure, a basket journaled in the tub structure for rotation about a horizontal axis, means for rotating the basket at a relatively low speed during washing periods and at a relatively high speed during fluid extracting periods, and means for resiliently supporting the tub structure and restraining the amplitude of vibration thereof, said means comprising links pivoted to and depending from said supporting structure, links respectively pivoted to said first mentioned links and having laterally extending arms pivotally connected to said tub structure, friction elements between the first mentioned and second mentioned links, and coil springs extending between the tub structure and said second mentioned links at points spaced from their pivotal connections with the first mentioned links, said springs being arranged to resiliently bias said second mentioned links about their pivots in the direction of upward movement of the arms and resiliently restraining downward movement of the tub structure.

5. In a laundry machine for washing fabrics and for extracting cleaning fluid therefro by centrifugal force, a supporting structure, atub structure, a basket journaled in the tub structure for rotation about a horizontal axis, means for rotating the basket at a relatively low speed during washing periods and at a relatively high speed during fluid extracting periods, and means for resiliently supporting the tub structure and restraining the amplitude of vibration thereof, said means comprising links pivoted to and depending from said supporting structure, bell crank links respectively pivoted to said first mentioned links and having laterally extending arms pivotally connected to said tub structure, friction elements between the first mentioned and second mentioned links, and springs extending between the other arms of said ball crank links and the tub structure and normally urging said last mentioned links in the direction of upward movement of said laterally extending arms.

6. In a laundry machine for washing fabrics and for extracting cleaning fluid therefrom by centrifugal force, a, supporting structure, a tub structure, a basket journaled in the tub structure for rotation about a horizontal axis, means for I rotating the basket at a relatively low speed during washing periods and at a relatively high speed during fluid extracting periods, and means for resiliently supporting the tub structure and restraining the amplitude of vibration thereof, said means comprising links pivoted to and depending from said supporting structure, links respectively pivoted to said first mentioned links and having laterally extending arms pivotally connected to said tub structure, friction element between the first mentioned and second mentioned links, and springs between said second mentioned links and tub structure normally biasing said second mentioned links in the direction of upward movement of the lateral arms thereof and resiliently restraining downward movement of aid arms and the tub structure carried thereby.

7. In a laundry machine for washing fabrics and for extracting cleaning fluid therefrom by centrifugal force, a supporting structure, a tub structure, a basket journaled in the tub structure for rotation about a horizontal axis, means for rotating the basket at a relatively low speed during washing periods and at a relatively high speed during fluid extracting periods, and means for resiliently supporting the tub structure and restraining the amplitude of vibration thereof, said means comprising two links adjacent each end of the tub structure pivoted to and depending from the supporting structure and disposed to opposite sides of the axis of the basket, a link pivoted to each of said first mentioned links and having a laterally extending arm pivotally connected to the tub structure, friction elements between the first mentioned and second mentioned links, and springs connected to the tub structure and said second mentioned links and normally urging thelatter in the direction of upward movement of the laterally extending arms.

8. In a laundry machine for washing fabrics and for extracting cleaning fluid therefrom by centrifugal force; a supporting structure, a tub structure, a basket journaled in the tub structure for rotation about a horizontal axis, means for rotating the basket at a relatively low speed during washing periods and at a relatively high speed during fluid extracting periods, and means for resiliently supporting the tub structure and restraining the amplitude of vibration thereof, said means comprising a pair of links pivoted to and depending from the supporting structure for swinging movement laterally of the axis of the basket, a link pivoted to each of said" first mentioned links and having a laterally extending arm and a second arm angularly disposed relative thereto, the inner ends of said laterally extending arms being pivoted to said tub structure, and a spring between each of said second mentioned arms and the tub structure for resiliently restraining downward swinging movement of the laterally extending arms and the tub carried thereby.

9. In a laundry machine for washing fabrics and for extracting cleaning fluid therefrom by centrifugal force, a supporting structure, a tub structure, a basket journaled in the tub structure for rotation about a horizontal axis, means for rotating the basket at a relatively low speed during washing periods and at a relatively high speed during fluid extracting periods, and means for resiliently supporting the tub structure and restraining the amplitude of vibration thereof, said means comprising a pair of links pivoted to and depending from the supporting structure for swinging movement laterally of the axis 01' the basket, .a link pivoted to each of said first mentioned links and having a laterally extending 5 arm and a depending arm, the inner ends of said laterally extending arms being pivoted to said tub structure, and a tension spring between each or said depending arms and the tub structure for resiliently restraining downward swinging movement of the laterally extending arms and the tub carried thereby.

WIILIAM J. RUSSELL.

OSCAR M. ANDERSON.

8 REFERENCES crrnn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 992,756 Cross May 23, 1911 1,051,408 Holland Jan. 28, 1913 2,130,160 Schelienberg Sept. 13, 1938 10 2,302,836 Breckenridge "Nov. 24, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 682,666 Germany Oct. 19, 1939 

